Mayor Comments

AT LAST THE band room is a reality.

After some 10 years of planning, negotiating and band fund-raising, the band has a fine new facility in Foster St. next to the museum.

I know that the recently re-elected executive of Ken Garner (president), Les Hemberger (vice-president), Shirley Hempberger (secretary) and Alan Glover ( treasurer), together with their hard working committee, are proud of reaching this important milestone in the history of Sale City Band.

The whole city shares the pride.

The spacious, functional bandroom of 1980 is a fitting reward for those bandsmen and women, both past and present, who have struggled to keep the band together through many a lean year.

It is a tribute to their preseverence that they have won through.

Not only does the band have a new band room. They also have a dedicated bandmaster in Ray Jago, and talented young musicians in Leon Salter and Debbie Hempberger.

Both Leon and Debbie are teaching a learners group which, it is hoped, will form the nucleus of a junior band.

Two other matters call for comment.

Despite inadequate facilities in the past, the Sale Band has made a valuable contribution to the civic life of the city over many years.

In the last 12 months he band gave no fewer than 22 recitals. They never turned down a single request.

The second matter concerns the building project.

The council recognised the importance of the band and to the city of a new bandroom by allocating $20,000 towards the building project.

I am pleased to report that council's faith in the band was not misplaced.

Of an estimated cost of some $45,000, possibly as much as one third was saved through working bees. And no one has given more leadership in this regard than the band committee president, Ken Garner.

Congratulations to all associated with the Sale City Band.